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Canada opens World Cup rowing season with bronze medal in women's pair

Canada's women's eight rowing team members Krista Guloien and Lauren Wilkinson in Dorney, England on Thursday, August 2, 2012. (Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

The Canadian Press
Published Sunday, March 30, 2014 6:55PM EDT

SYDNEY, Australia - Canada's Natalie Mastracci and Susanne Grainger won bronze in the women's pair Sunday at the opening World Cup rowing event of the season.

New Zealand's Louise Trappitt and Rebecca Scown won gold in seven minutes 9.70 seconds. Min Zhang and Tian Miao of China were second in 7:14.62.

Mastracci, from Thorold, Ont., and Grainger, from London, Ont., were third in 7:17.02.

"Susanne and I approached the 10 days of preparation before the final with a lot of focus," Mastracci said of the new pairing. "We decided that no matter how little time we had together we came here with a mission. We built confidence in her rhythm and my calls throughout training and racing, and I'm proud of what we accomplished today."

Mastracci won Olympic silver in the women's eight at the 2012 London Games.

Christine Roper of Victoria and Ashley Brzozowicz of Peterborough, Ont., were fourth.